Punjab governor felicitates entrepreneurs on Women's Day

With the aim to celebrate women empowerment and entrepreneurial spirit, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria presided over the Fempreneur Rising Stars 2025 Award ceremony at Raj Bhawan today.

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The event, timed to coincide with International Women’s Day, celebrated the achievements of women entrepreneurs who are making significant contributions to their communities and industries.

Kataria emphasised the pivotal role that women play in driving economic growth and positive societal change. He lauded the award recipients for their remarkable resilience, unwavering determination, and ground-breaking innovations.

“Today, we gather at Punjab Raj Bhavan on the occasion of International Women's Day,” he said, adding, “This ceremony symbolides the immense power of women’s entrepreneurship and the spirit of innovation. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of the award-winning women present here today. You have proven, through your indomitable courage and tireless hard work, that women are capable of achieving excellence in any and every field they choose to pursue.”

“It is imperative that we provide our daughters not only with access to higher education but also with meaningful opportunities for professional training and comprehensive skill development. When women are truly empowered, our nation as a whole will inevitably become more self-reliant, more prosperous, and undeniably more progressive,” he further said.

The ceremony recognised women who demonstrated extraordinary success and leadership within their respective fields, including Rajni Bector, trailblazer in the food processing industry; Sargi Mann, renowned singer; Radha Bhatia, hospitality industry; Blossom Kochchar, aromatherapy; Dolly Jain, saree draper; Disha Malik, blogger; Zila Khan, singer; Manisha Bhatia, technology innovator; Divya Chauhan, academic entrepreneur; Ankita Raj, finance expert; and Atisha Pratap Singh, environmental conservationist.

The Department of Social Welfare, UT, also celebrated International Women’s Day with enthusiasm, reaffirming its commitment to women’s empowerment and inclusivity.

Kataria graced the occasion as the chief guest, praising the invaluable contributions of women in nation-building. He emphasised that true progress was only possible with equal participation of women and highlighted key government initiatives, including the Nari Shakti Vandan Act, to encourage self-reliance among young girls.

Kataria noted that while remarkable strides have been made in various fields, persistent gender biases and traditional mindsets continue to impose challenges on women.

He highlighted a range of initiatives that include transformative schemes such as Mission Shakti, the Poshan Abhiyaan, and dedicated Women Empowerment Centres.

Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari also attended the event and expressed his appreciation for the initiative. He emphasised the significance of recognising and celebrating women’s achievements at such a platform. He also spoke about the courage of women and their lifelong contributions to their families and society.

The highlight of the event was the launch of “PRERNA”, a commemorative booklet featuring the inspiring journeys of 20 remarkable women from Chandigarh who have broken barriers and excelled in various fields. The booklet serves as a source of motivation for young girls and women to pursue their aspirations fearlessly. The event also featured an experience-sharing session where the trailblazing women featured in “PRERNA” shared their inspiring journeys.

The eminent trailblazers Sudha Pillai, Jagdeep Bains, Veena Garela, Aradhna Tandon, Indu Pal Kaur, Renu Vig, Dr Jasbinder Kaur and Dr Bhavneet Bharti spoke about the challenges, and triumphs, encouraging the audience to persevere in their pursuits, who attended the event in person.

Students from the Fine Arts College, Sector 10, also put up an art exhibition on the theme of women empowerment.

CITCO

CITCO celebrated the International Women’s Day with a special luncheon party for its women employees at Hotel Mountview. The event was a tribute to the contributions of women in the organization, bringing together all women employees for a joyous gathering. They marked the occasion by cutting a cake and sharing moments of camaraderie, making it a memorable celebration.

As part of the Women’s Day celebrations, CITCO is also extended special discount to women guests across its hotels.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief General Manager, CITCO, Paviter Singh said: “At CITCO, we recognise and appreciate the invaluable role women play in our workforce and society. This celebration is a small token of our gratitude, and we are delighted to extend these special offers to our female guests as well, ensuring they feel valued and celebrated.”

He added that CITCO remains committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for women.

Senior Citizens Association

Chandigarh Senior Citizens Association celebrated International Women’s Day in Community Centre, Sector 19, with Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla presiding over the function.

More than 200 members attended and enjoyed the cultural programme organised by Geeta Goyal and Vinay Goyal’s team and Roopam Kala Society under the leadership of Sangeeta Gupta.

The president welcomed all the members of CSCA. Six women from tricity, Suprana Sachdev, Sangeeta Jain, Madhu Nagpal, Satvinder Kaur, Vijay Kumari Sharma and Vandana Kansal, were felicitated.

Walkathon organised

The State Bank of India’s local head office in collaboration with Desh Bhagat Radio organised a walkathon for its women employees on Saturday. The event was flagged off by Deputy General Manager and CDO Kajal Kumar Bhowmick, Director Media Department Surjeet Patheja and other senior officers.

Over 250 participants joined the walkathon.

Rayat Bahra University

The Event Club of Rayat Bahra University celebrated Women’s Day in collaboration with the Department of Life Sciences, powered by Alpha School of RBU. The speakers included Deepika Bahri, president of WICCI, and Sujata Pal, Associate Professor (CSE) at IIT-Ropar.

Talks hosted

Another event was organised on the theme, “Accelerate Action”, emphasising the urgent need for concrete steps toward gender equality and empowerment.

The event commenced with an opening session by Rimpi Arora, President of Positive Abilities Rotaract Club, followed by a welcome address by Runa Arora, General Secretary of My Action for the Disabled (MAD) Foundation).

The Sector 8 Ladies Group also organised a special programme, which was coordinated by Simran, Madhu Nagpal, Manjula Swaroop. A talk by guest spreaker Usha Dogra focused on women empowerment.